Does Celexa Cause Weight Gain?
A 2024 study of 183,118 people found slightly more weight gain on citalopram than on sertraline, but less than on Lexapro.
By withClaro Editorial · 2026-11-02 · 4 min read
Clinical section reviewed by Dr. Jason Tan , Consultant Psychiatrist, on October 27, 2026.
Key takeaways In a 2024 study of 183,118 people, citalopram was linked to slightly more weight gain than sertraline after six months. Escitalopram, paroxetine and duloxetine carried a 10% to 15% higher risk of gaining 5% of body weight; citalopram was not among them. In the FDA trials, loss of appetite was more common than on placebo; the label lists increased appetite, weight gain and weight loss as frequent, meaning at least 1 in 100 people. Tell your prescriber about any steady change in appetite or weight. On this page
Where Celexa falls among eight antidepressants on weight Does weight gain on Celexa last? Why can Celexa cause weight gain? What should you tell your prescriber about weight changes? Celexa (citalopram) can cause some weight gain, though on average it is close to sertraline. In a 2024 US study of 183,118 people, people who started citalopram gained about 0.12 kg more than those on sertraline after six months, with a range from about 0.02 to 0.23 kg; that is a gap between two drugs, not how much anyone gains. More useful for most readers: citalopram was not among the drugs that raised the risk of a bigger gain, of 5% of body weight or more.
Where Celexa falls among eight antidepressants on weight
Citalopram sits in the middle of the pack: close to sertraline, with less gain than escitalopram. The 2024 study compared weight six months after starting one of eight common antidepressants, each against sertraline. The averages are small, and individual people vary a lot.
Medicine Weight change vs sertraline at 6 months Sertraline (Zoloft) the comparison point Escitalopram (Lexapro) about 0.41 kg more Paroxetine (Paxil) about 0.37 kg more Duloxetine (Cymbalta) about 0.34 kg more Venlafaxine (Effexor) about 0.17 kg more Citalopram (Celexa) about 0.12 kg more Fluoxetine (Prozac) about the same Bupropion (Wellbutrin) about 0.22 kg less
The study used medical records rather than a trial, and only 28% to 41% of people were still on their medicine at six months, so the gaps may be understated. For the chance of a bigger gain, of at least 5% of body weight, escitalopram, paroxetine and duloxetine carried a 10% to 15% higher risk, and bupropion a 15% lower risk. Citalopram was in neither group.
Does weight gain on Celexa last?
Six months is not the whole story. A 2018 UK study of nearly 295,000 people found antidepressant users about 21% more likely to gain at least 5% of their weight, and the higher risk lasted at least six years. It also analysed individual drugs, with citalopram among the most often prescribed, though the link may not be causal.
Why can Celexa cause weight gain? Medically reviewed by Dr. Jason Tan on October 27, 2026, this section only.
The exact reason isn't known, and no study has pinned it down for citalopram. Citalopram acts on the serotonin system, which is also involved in appetite. The label lists increased appetite, weight gain and weight loss among frequent reactions, at least 1 in 100 people, and loss of appetite was more common than on placebo, 4% against 2%. Appetite often comes back as depression lifts, so changes can go either way. The clinical view on weight and antidepressants:
Weight can change on an antidepressant, and noticing a change early gives you the most options.
In the first weeks, some people lose a little weight because of nausea or a smaller appetite. Gain, when it happens, usually builds over months, though with a few medications it can start within weeks. It varies a lot between people on the same medication.
Several things feed into it: appetite returning as mood improves, cravings, less activity, poor sleep and the medication itself.
What you can do:
- Mention a steady rise at your next appointment, while the change is still small. - Raise weight loss that keeps going, or an appetite that has not come back after the first weeks. A change in weight is a reason to talk about the medicine as a whole, not only the weight, and the decision is one to make with your prescriber. Stopping on your own to control weight can bring on withdrawal or a return of symptoms.
Don't wait for the next appointment if weight is dropping fast, you have stopped eating, or the change comes with a sharp drop in mood. If you're having thoughts of harming yourself, contact emergency services or a crisis line straight away. In the US, call or text 988. In the UK, call Samaritans on 116 123. Elsewhere, find a crisis line near you .
What should you tell your prescriber about weight changes?
Tell your prescriber what changed, when it started and how much it bothers you. It helps to tell them:
When you started Celexa, your dose and any dose changes. When you first noticed a change in appetite or weight. Changes in energy or sleep since starting. Whether your clothes fit differently. Any history of an eating disorder. More on side effects in Celexa side effects .
Download on the App Store Appetite and energy on Celexa can shift over months. The withClaro app lets you log appetite, energy, sleep and mood each day, linked to your dose, and turns it into a report for your prescriber.
Frequently asked questions What if Celexa is working but my weight is going up? Raise it rather than stopping. Bring when the change started and how much, so you and your prescriber can weigh it against how well the medicine is working for you.
Does Celexa make you lose weight? Some people lose a little early on, as appetite can drop. If your appetite has not come back after the first weeks, raise it at your next appointment.
Does a higher Celexa dose cause more weight gain? The 2024 study didn't look at dose. If you notice a change after a dose increase, note when it started and bring that to your prescriber.
Will I lose weight after stopping Celexa? That varies, and there is little research on it. Plan any stop with your prescriber, and note your appetite and weight in the months after.
Related articles
More about Celexa Same topic, other medications
Sources Petimar J, et al. Medication-induced weight change across common antidepressant treatments: a target trial emulation study. Annals of Internal Medicine, 2024 Gafoor R, Booth HP, Gulliford MC. Antidepressant utilisation and incidence of weight gain during 10 years' follow-up. BMJ, 2018 CELEXA (citalopram) prescribing information, US Food and Drug Administration via DailyMed Claro articles are for self-monitoring and educational purposes only. They are not a medical device, therapist, or diagnostic tool, and do not replace care from your prescribing clinician. If you are in crisis, contact your care team, emergency services, the Samaritans (UK: 116 123), or the Crisis Text Line (US: text HOME to 741741).